coleman



(No Model.)

J. A. COLEMAN. AUTOMATIC CLOSING TELEGRAPHIU KEY.

No. 553,106. Patented Jan. 14,1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

JAMES A. COLEMAN, OF PERRY STATION, CANADA.

AUTOMATIC-CLOSING TELEGRAPHIC KEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,106, dated January 14, 1896.

Application filed November 13, 1895. Serial No. 568,806. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES ARTHUR COLE- MAN, of Perry Station, in the county of Velland and Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Closing Telegraphic Keys; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention .relates to certain new and useful improvements in automatic-closing telegraphic keys; and the invention relates to an attachment whereby the telegraphic key will of itself immediately close the circuit after the operator has removed his fingers from the finger-button, and thus prevent trouble arising through neglect or oversight to close the circuit on the cessation of the use of the instrument; and the invention consists essentially of the device hereinafter more fully setforth and more particularlypointed outin the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View showing the telegraphic key with the circuit closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the circuit open. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the key-lever from the upper side. Fig. 4 is a view from the under side. Fig. 5 isa view of the closing contactpoint and its operating-lever.

Likeletters of reference refer to like parts throughout the specification and drawings.

It might here be stated that the essential feature of the invention is to dispense with the side switch commonly used in connection with telegraphic keys and to provide a device whereby the circuit is automatically and instantaneously closed immediately on the cessation of the use of the key. The key-lever A and the trunnions c, on which it oscillates, are formed entire from a single piece of metal. The keylcver A with its trunnions is substantially in the form of a Latin cross. The trunnions (L- are journaled in the set screws l3,which constitute the bearin g-scrcws. The bearingscrews B are supported by the upright lugs C of the base or frame I). The bearing-screws B are locked in their set position by lock-nuts Z). The base or frame D is substantially cross-shaped, and the lugs C, arnis E, and body F are formed integrally. The end a of thelcey-lever A is provided with an adjustable stop G to limit the upward movement of the key-lever. The adjustable stop G consists of a set-screw fitted through the end c, and a lock-nut g to hold the setscrew in any set position. The end ct",opposite the end a, is fitted with an insulated button H. The button H consists of two sections 72. h. The section b is immovably secured to the key-lever contiguous to the end a of the said key-lever, while the section It is inovably secured to the section 71., and is interposed between the section it and the trunnion a. That portion of the key-lever A immediately below the button H is insulated by a vulcanite or other non-conducting plate I, in order that the finger of the operator during the use of the instrument will not enter the circuit of the current.

Formed through the button H is an openin g J, through which is inserted the operatingfinger of the person using or operating the instrument. One half of this opening J is formed in each of the sections h h. The section 72/ is movably connected to the section 72. in the following manner: Projecting from each side of the adjacent meeting edge of the section h is a dowel-pin K, each of which is adapted to enter a corresponding socket Lin the section 71 Projecting downwardly from the middle of the under side of the section it" is a lug M, and connected to the lug M is one end of a screw-threaded pin N, which is slidably supported at or about its middle by a lug 0, extending upwardly from the key-lever A. Mounted on the pin N adjacent to the lug M is a nut P, and coiled on the pin N between the nut P and the lug O is a spring Q. The object of the nut P is for the purpose of regulating the tension of the spring Q, to increase or reduce its strength, as the case may be.

Formed in the under side of the he y-lev er A, between the button and the trunnions, is a longitudinal groove R, and pivoted within the groove R is a jointed lever S. That end of the jointed lever S next the button H is pro vided with a lug T, which projects through a longitudinal slot in the key-levcr A. The upper end of the lug T is fitted with an eye through which passes a sliding pin U. The sliding pin U passes through the lug 0 below the pin N. That end of the pin U contiguous to the lug T is enlarged or fitted with a head a, and coiled on the pin U between the head a and lugT is a spring V. The end of the pin U opposite the head it is bent upwardly and is fitted with an eye XV, through which passes the end of the pin N. Mounted on the pin N, on one side of the eye IV, is a nut X, and mounted on the pin N, on the opposite side of the eye \V, is a nut X. The pin U, it might here be stated, is provided with a shoulder 11, between the lugs T O, which normally bears against the lug T to press the lug toward the button. The pin U, contiguous to the eye \V, is held by a suitable guide Y, connected to the key-lever A. Connected to the end of the lever S opposite the lug T is a contactpoint Z. The contactpoint Z, when the circuit is closed, rests on a contactpoint A, connected with the linewire 13. Located below the key-lever A, be tween the contact-point A and the trunnions, is a spring 0, and to increase the resilient force of the spring 0 the keydever A is provided with an adjustable set-screw D, fitted with a lock-nut E. By adjusting the setscrew D the force of the spring C can be increased or diminished as required. B y screi ing the nuts X X toward the lug O the pin N is drawn toward the trunnions, and the movement of the pin toward the trunnions moves the button-section 7L away from the section it, increasing the size of the hole J between the sections.

It might here be stated that the nut X bears against the eye IV of the pin U and is the means by which the pin N is drawn toward the trunnions.

It might be stated that the pressure of the shoulder it against the lug T prevents any opposite corresponding movement on the part of the pin U. Thus the eye IV in this case accomplishes the same result as it would if it were rigidly fastened to the key-lever.

In screwing the nuts X X away from the lug O the pin J is moved in the opposite direction, moving the button-section h to the button-section h, diminishing the size of the opening J. The object of increasing or diminishing the size of the opening .I is to regulate it, in order that it can be adapted to fingers of diiferent sizes.

The operation of the device is as follows: The finger of the operator is inserted into the opening J, and the key-section 7L, by the insertion of the finger, is moved away from the section 72. The insulated plate I protects the fingcrfrom the circuit of the current. The movement of the section 7t fromthe section h moves with it toward the trunnions the pin N, and this movement of the pin N carries with it the pin U. The movement of the pin U toward the trunnions causes the spring V to move'in the same direction the lug T of the jointed lever, and this movement of the lug T causes the jointed lever to bend and raise the contact-point Z into the groove R in the key-lever A, and entirely clear of the contactpoint A. These several parts remain in this position while the finger remains inserted in the opening J. The circuit of the current is then broken through the instrument. By the removal of the finger from the opening J the spring Q returns the button-section It and the other coacting parts to their normal position, lowering the contact-point Z on the contact-point A. through the line-wirel connected to the end of the frame I) opposite the contact-point A through the adjustable stop G, through the key-lever, through the contact'points 7 A. to the line-wire 13.

The advantage of using a device of this kind is that under no possibility, while the attachment is in good working order, can the operator, through oversight or negligence. leave the line open after he has ceased using the instrument.

Having thus fully described my invention. what I claim as new, and desire to secure ov Letters Patent, is

1. In a telegraphic key the combination of the key-lever, a button comprised of two sec tions, one section connected to the key-lever. and the other section movably secured to the stationary section, a jointed lever pivotally connected to the key-lever, a contact point carried by the jointed lever and a connection between the jointed lever and the movable button section, substantially as specified.

2. In a telegraphic key the combination 1 the key-lever, a button comprised of two sec tions, one section connected to the key-lever. and the other movably connected to the sta tionary section, a pin projecting from the movable section in the same plane as the key-lever, a jointed lever pivotally connected to the key-lever, a contact point carried by the jointed lever, a connection between the pin and the jointed lever, whereby the contact point is moved by the movement of the inovable section, substantially as specified.

3. In a telegraphic key, the combination with the transmitting contact point of a keylever, a button, comprised of two sections, one of the sections connected to the key-lever, the other section movably connected to the stationary section, a pin, one end of which is connected to the movable button section, a lug supporting the middle of the pin, a spring coiled on the pin and bearing against the inc; and the movable button section, a jointed 3ever pivotally connected to the key-leveiga contact point carried by the jointed lever normally engaging with the transmitting contact point, and a connection between the movable seotion and the jointed lever, whereby the circuit is made or broken through the contact points, substantially as specified.

4. In a telegraphic instrument, the combination of the transmitting contact point, a key-lever, a finger button comprised of two sections, one of which is connected to the keylever, and the other movablyconnected to the stationary section, a pin in the same plane as The current then circuits the key-lever, one end of the pin connected to the movable button section, a lug connected to the key-lever, supporting the middle of the pin, a set nut located on the pin between the lug and the movable section, a spring coiled on the pin between the lug and the nut, a jointed lever pi-votally connected to the keylever, acontact point carried by the jointed lever, normally engaging the transmitting contact point, and a connection between the pin and the jointed lever, whereby the jointed lever is operated by the movement of the movable button section,substantially as specified.

5. In a telegraphic key, the combination of the transmitting contact point, the keydever, a finger button comprised of two sections, one section connected to the key-lever, and the other section inovably connected to the stationary section, a pin, one end of which is connected to the movable section, ajointed lever pivotally connected to the key-lever, a

contact point carried by the jointed lever, normally engaging with the transmitting contact point, a lug connected to that end of the jointed lei ernext the finger button, the said lug projecting through the key-lever, a pin passing through the said lug, an enlarged head for that end of the pin next the finger button, a spring coiled on the pin between the head and the lug, the opposite end of the pin provided with an eye through which passes the pin connected to the movable section of the finger button, and a nut on the said pin, on each side of the said eye, to adjust the position of the button sections substantially as specified.

XVella-nd, October 18, 1895.

J. A. COLEMAN. In presence of- CLon RAMEY, JOHN STAUNTON. 

